Wrecks leave one dead, one seriously injured

Joey Carbonell, owner of Teche Trucking Inc., looks over one of his company’s trucks Friday evening in Larose after a two-vehicle crash on La. 308 left a 17-year-old from Larose critically injured.

Abby Tabor/Staff

Raymond LegendreStaff Writer

Published: Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 19, 2010 at 10:19 p.m.

THIBODAUX — A pair of unrelated crashes that happened within minutes of each other Friday afternoon left an Assumption Parish man dead and a Larose teen in critical condition, State Police said.

Herman S. Dickerson Jr., 62, of Belle Rose, was killed when his SUV struck a truck after crossing the centerline. The wreck happened about 1:58 p.m. near the 6500-block of La. 1 in Klotzville, near Belle Rose.

About 15 minutes later in Lafourche Parish, 17-year-old Benny Smith III suffered critical injuries when his truck crossed the centerline and struck an 18-wheeler on La. 308 near East 26th Place in Larose at about 2:14 p.m. Smith’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, said trooper Bryan Zeringue, a spokesman for State Police Troop C. Zeringue said doctors were examining Smith, who was wearing a seat belt, Friday night to determine the extent of his injuries.

The two crashes Friday afternoon happened just one day after a pair of unrelated crashes in central Lafourche and Assumption killed two motorists — Willie J. Galliano, a 38-year-old from Cut Off, and Edward T. Waller, a 49-year-old from Labadieville.

“If you look at all these crashes, every one is (caused by) driver error,” Zeringue said. “People just need to take the time and concentrate on the task at hand, which is driving their vehicle.”

Police are unsure why Dickerson and Smith crossed the centerline prior to their crashes. Investigators do not suspect alcohol or drug use in either wreck.

In Friday afternoon’s fatal crash in Assumption, Dickerson failed to make a right-hand curve on La. 1 before crossing into the northbound lane.

Dickerson’s 2000 Ford Explorer struck a 2009 GMC pickup driven by Richard Giroir, causing Giroir’s vehicle to flip and come to rest on its roof in a ditch near the northbound shoulder.

The Assumption Coroner’s Office pronounced Dickerson dead at the scene. Acadian Ambulance took Giroir, a 64-year-old from Belle Rose, to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, where he is being treated for moderate injuries, Zeringue said.

Both men wore their seat belts.

Blood samples from both drivers were submitted to the Assumption Coroner’s Office and State Police Crime Lab. Results are pending.

In the second crash, Smith’s 2003 Chevy pickup crossed from the northbound lane into the path of a southbound 2010 Peterbilt 18-wheeler driven by Calvin Booker, a 30-year-old from New Iberia.

Booker tried to avoid the oncoming truck to no avail, police said.

Smith’s vehicle rested on La. 308’s northbound lane. He was extricated from his vehicle and taken to Lady of the Sea Hospital in Galliano.

Booker, who was wearing a seat belt, was also taken to Lady of the Sea with minor injuries. He was later released, Zeringue said.

Blood samples from both drivers were submitted to State Police. Results are pending.

Staff Writer Raymond Legendre can be reached at 448-7617 or raymond.legendre@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @cometcrime.

<p>THIBODAUX — A pair of unrelated crashes that happened within minutes of each other Friday afternoon left an Assumption Parish man dead and a Larose teen in critical condition, State Police said.</p><p>Herman S. Dickerson Jr., 62, of Belle Rose, was killed when his SUV struck a truck after crossing the centerline. The wreck happened about 1:58 p.m. near the 6500-block of La. 1 in Klotzville, near Belle Rose.</p><p>About 15 minutes later in Lafourche Parish, 17-year-old Benny Smith III suffered critical injuries when his truck crossed the centerline and struck an 18-wheeler on La. 308 near East 26th Place in Larose at about 2:14 p.m. Smith's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, said trooper Bryan Zeringue, a spokesman for State Police Troop C. Zeringue said doctors were examining Smith, who was wearing a seat belt, Friday night to determine the extent of his injuries.</p><p>The two crashes Friday afternoon happened just one day after a pair of unrelated crashes in central Lafourche and Assumption killed two motorists — Willie J. Galliano, a 38-year-old from Cut Off, and Edward T. Waller, a 49-year-old from Labadieville.</p><p>“If you look at all these crashes, every one is (caused by) driver error,” Zeringue said. “People just need to take the time and concentrate on the task at hand, which is driving their vehicle.”</p><p>Police are unsure why Dickerson and Smith crossed the centerline prior to their crashes. Investigators do not suspect alcohol or drug use in either wreck.</p><p>In Friday afternoon's fatal crash in Assumption, Dickerson failed to make a right-hand curve on La. 1 before crossing into the northbound lane. </p><p>Dickerson's 2000 Ford Explorer struck a 2009 GMC pickup driven by Richard Giroir, causing Giroir's vehicle to flip and come to rest on its roof in a ditch near the northbound shoulder.</p><p>The Assumption Coroner's Office pronounced Dickerson dead at the scene. Acadian Ambulance took Giroir, a 64-year-old from Belle Rose, to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, where he is being treated for moderate injuries, Zeringue said. </p><p>Both men wore their seat belts.</p><p>Blood samples from both drivers were submitted to the Assumption Coroner's Office and State Police Crime Lab. Results are pending. </p><p>In the second crash, Smith's 2003 Chevy pickup crossed from the northbound lane into the path of a southbound 2010 Peterbilt 18-wheeler driven by Calvin Booker, a 30-year-old from New Iberia.</p><p>Booker tried to avoid the oncoming truck to no avail, police said.</p><p>Smith's vehicle rested on La. 308's northbound lane. He was extricated from his vehicle and taken to Lady of the Sea Hospital in Galliano.</p><p>Booker, who was wearing a seat belt, was also taken to Lady of the Sea with minor injuries. He was later released, Zeringue said.</p><p>Blood samples from both drivers were submitted to State Police. Results are pending.</p><p>Staff Writer Raymond Legendre can be reached at 448-7617 or raymond.legendre@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @cometcrime.</p>